From diplomacy to daily decision-making: Sara Dahlsten at GaPP Lunch & Learn
What is it like to build a career in diplomacy and represent Sweden in a changing international environment? At the latest GaPP Lunch & Learn, Sara Dahlsten from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs met with SSE students for a conversation about the Swedish Foreign Service, career paths, and the realities of working with foreign policy.
About the lecture
Sara Dahlsten, Head of Division for Israel, Palestine and Northern Africa at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, joined students at the Stockholm School of Economics for the latest GaPP Lunch & Learn.
Drawing on more than 20 years at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Dahlsten shared experiences from a career that has included work in Sweden and at embassies abroad. She described the variety of roles available within the Foreign Service and discussed what it means to work as a civil servant in a politically governed organization.
The conversation also explored how the Ministry prepares for political change and uncertainty. While some processes continue regardless of changes in government, priorities and instructions can shift following an election. Dahlsten also discussed the importance of international law in Swedish foreign policy and the role of international cooperation.
Students put their questions to the Ministry
The second part of the Lunch & Learn opened for questions from students, creating a wide-ranging discussion about both careers and current international affairs.
Students asked about career opportunities at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, including the diplomatic training program, internships, language requirements, and how students can gain relevant experience through organizations such as NGOs, think tanks, Sida, and Business Sweden.
The discussion also touched on current foreign policy issues, including Russia’s war against Ukraine and the Israel-Palestine conflict, as well as how civil servants navigate situations in which personal views may differ from the policies they are responsible for implementing.
The seminar formed part of GaPP Lunch & Learn, a student-focused series that gives SSE students an opportunity to meet practitioners working with public policy and learn more about their careers and experiences.
The series also connects to SSE’s growing focus on public policy and the new Master in Public Policy (MPP), which will welcome its first students in August 2028. The two-year program combines multidisciplinary academic training with hands-on policy projects, professional development, and engagement with experienced decision-makers and policy experts.
Contact
Johanna Ståhlberg
Communications Coordinator, House of Governance and Public Policy
Stockholm School of Economics
Email: johanna.stahlberg@hhs.se
Phone: +46 72 076 23 12
